Plus, René helps Bree gets her groove back with a sex swing! FUN!

I normally get annoyed when the women of Wisteria Lanehave totally separate story lines — this show is at its best when they all come together — but something about the Oct. 16 episode of Desperate Housewivesreally managed cure to my Sunday-night blues. Maybe it was Bree (Marcia Cross) letting her freak flag fly on a sex swing; Maybe it was Gaby (Eva Longoria) running a woman over in her car; Or maybe it was Susan (Teri Hatcher) going all “Amanda Knox” on an easel. Whatever it was, it worked.

So, yeah, let’s talk about that sex swing. Bree’s daughter Danielle (what up, Joy Lauren?) came to visit this week, bringing along a not-so-baby Benjamin and a sexy new business idea. While she told her mom she was making “exercise equipment,” a very astute René (Vanessa Williams) figured out Danielle’s strappy products were actually erotic swings! Not only did Bree give her daughter her approval, but she even offered to be a silent partner in her new business. I guess covering up a murder really changes a person.

And speaking of how murder changes people, our girl Susan has taken her crazy to a whole new level. She convinced her favorite artist to let her join his private class, but on one condition: She has to embrace her darkest emotions and express them every week. Let’s start a countdown to her complete mental collapse, shall we?

Meanwhile, Gaby staged a 300-style uprising — no, seriously, she actually shouted, “This is Sparta!” — when the PTA president at Juanita’s school took away her parking privileges. But while Gaby may possess Gerard Butler‘s trademark abs, she apparently lacks King Leonidas’ leadership skills. Her army backed out, leaving her no choice but to “accidentally” run the president over with her car. This led to the worst punishment possible: Ladies and gentlemen, meet your new PTA president — Gabrielle Solis!

But the episode wasn’t all fun and games — at least not for Lynette (Felicity Huffman), who realized her “separation” from Tom (Doug Savant) will inevitably turn into a divorce. After catching her “hubby” chatting it up with a perky young blonde, Lynette stalked the little trollop all the way to her aerobics class. As it turns out, Tom had been seeing the girl’s mom, which Lynette took as an even harder blow. Tom isn’t just casually dating other women — he’s finding one to replace her.

Oh, and Bree’s detective ex-boyfriend was handed Gaby’s step-dad’s missing persons report at the end of episode. So, yeah, that sucks.